Kashion Smith

An Amarillo native, I was raised with a heart for hospitality and a passion for the Texas Panhandle. I started my tourism career as the general manager of a hotel located in the historic district of Taos, NM. Upon moving back to Amarillo with my family, I spent more than 10 years in hotels before joining the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council staff in 2013. In 2015 I took on the role of Director of Tourism followed by earning my Texas Destination Marketer (TDM) certificate in 2018. In the fall of 2018, I was appointed Deputy Director of the Amarillo CVC, going on the following year to earn a Certified Tourism Executive (CTE) certification. In October of 2020 the CVC separated from a long-term management agreement with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, became a standalone organization, the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau. Leading the organization through this challenging time, the CVB staff’s accomplishments stood out, and I was named Executive Director in January of 2021. Over the years I have served on many industry and community committees and boards. Currently, I serve on many boards and committees, including the Texas Travel Alliance board and am co-chair of their legislative committee.